Executive Coaching

Overview

Executive Coaching is an individualised process that uses a professional relationship as a tool to build executive capabilities, resolve conflicts and create greater effectiveness.

Our process is specifically geared to high-level executives promoting development and extending leadership abilities to achieve short and long-term personal and organisational goals. We tailor coaching to the individual executive in the context of the organisation in which they work while taking into account the unique aspects of the oil industry.

What we aim to achieve

In partnership with you, we assess the most pressing needs where coaching can support an executive’s development and ability to deliver their most effective influence and output. We consider the organisational context and the matrix of personal dynamics between key personnel. Typical issues include:

Motivating oneself and others;
Developing executive-level skills;
Strategic thinking;
Tactical problem solving;
Enhancing corporate culture and teamwork;
Supporting key figures to maximize their contributions;
Emotional issues that detract from performance and effectiveness;
Coping with pressure, stress and responsibility;
Improving the work/life balance;

And many other possibilities.

We determine what needs to be learned and how that can happen. Insight must be integrated into practice. Sometimes there are internal blocks, belief systems and ‘identifications’ that prevent us from producing our best work and feeling well in the process. And there are mental habits and emotional patterns that can bring down our overall level of performance. Many of the highest achievers often feel they have not yet fulfilled their potential. Some do not see what is stopping them. Another perspective can help with this.

Ultimately, after a period of support from executive coaching, participants should be independent, autonomous and authentic.

Creation of the Coaching Partnership

Coaching works through the unique relationship created by a Coaching Partnership. In collaboration, the executive, the coach and other key stakeholders create a process framework to ensure that the executive’s learning advances the organisation’s needs and critical business mandates.

Together, we formulate the ground rules, time frames, specific goals and measures of success.

How does the process work?

The principle of coaching essentially works through the cultivation of critical reflection. Critical reflection begins through dialogue and involves the development of a perspective upon ourselves to view our strengths and weakness, and especially where we go wrong, make mistakes, lose our momentum, deplete our inner resources or get into conflict with ourselves or others. The aim of critical reflection is to see ourselves as clearly and objectively as possible, to cut through self-deception and confusion, to become our own best mentor.

In practical terms, the usual coaching process involves 20 fortnightly 1½ hour sessions over a nine month time-frame. This can occur in person, by telephone, email, or internet telephony like Skype (with or without camera) – or any combination. In-person is best but often not possible as we work with people all over the world.

The number of sessions, their length, frequency and the duration of the overall process can be adjusted. Whether we work with one executive, two or more, a whole team or any combination becomes part of the plan to be worked out. Our approach is flexible.

What are the expected outcomes?

Outcomes may vary; generally benefits include:

An alignment of personal and organisational objectives;
Developing an understanding of the executive’s personal style;
Developing the executive’s leadership abilities and effectiveness at team building;
Improving the executive’s ability to communicate effectively;
Heightened self-awareness of core values, attitudes and perspectives;
Enhanced motivation and the removal of blocks;
Improved abilities at self-management and management of others;
Increased creativity and sense of fulfilment from your work; and
The satisfaction of feeling you have done your best at all that can be done.

Critical reflection is a tool that develops in dialogue with a coach but then can be taken away and evolves further in our own internal dialogue. The achievement of the above outcomes inevitably produces better business results which bring their own rewards and recognition.

We seek lasting improvements. The benefits are for life.